Winners & Losers

[tbsteel]

Winners:

1. Big Ben: Came out with his usual slow start, looking like he was using the first couple of drives to make up for the practice reps he misses during the week, but then was just phenomenal. Even the INT took a really outstanding play by Justin Evans, probably the "best" INT he's had this year. The intermediate out to AB on the sideline was a rope. The drive to end the second half was masterful. And the throw that won the game was vintage Big Ben: getting out of the clutches of a defender, throws the ball back across his body towards the middle of the field in stride to JJSS, which is just so damn difficult to do. 30-38 and several of those incompletions were balls that his receiver got their hands on or miscommunications (Conner not looking back on a pass to the flat, AB not reading the back shoulder throw).

2. Vance McDonald: This is why we traded for this guy. He's a playmaker in a way Jesse James really can't ever be, as we don't have another TE on the roster that can make the the play he did for his TD. Simply put: when he's on the field our offense is so much more dangerous. He literally cut off Chris Conte's balls and wore them as earrings the rest of the night, then kept talking about how "cute" they were with Bucs players in between plays. It was awkward.

3. Bud Dupree: Look, I know this isn't going to be popular, and I'm a Dupree hater from way back, but he's doing things this year he really hasn't so far in his career up til now. I'm not sure he's a good football player, but he's playing stronger and more aware than ever, making plays at the LOS, and the pick was obviously right place, right time but he made the snag and took it home. That missed sack could have been huge and he's got to finish. The move has definitely helped him out though.

4. JJSS: I don't think he had a catch in the first quarter and I didn't see him slinging water coolers or screaming at coaches. Such a steadying, dependable player. Doing the little things like the set up and spin move for the first down and the concentration the deep ball in the first half. He's got 19 first down catches in 3 games, tops in the NFL. He's a monster from the slot and is only getting better.

Losers:

1. Mike Tomlin: 13 penalties for 155 yards, and several other penalties declined by Tampa. 3/11 on third down. 0 points in the second half. All the signs of a poorly coached team. The most egregious lack of discipline came on the DHB illegal shift penalty on Berry's best punt of his life to Tampa's 1, then DHB drew the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Against a better team and QB that play would be the difference between winning and losing the game. Another game where the offense did not look prepared to execute, and the defense was confused and out of sync. 10 years ago this young coach proved he was a tremendous leader of men and button pusher on a veteran team and shaped that group to a championship. Now he's a damned joke. The Steelers are winning in spite of him at this point. If he had an ounce of humility he would be embarrassed and make some drastic changes in his approach. He won't.

2. Artie & Coty: Burns had a nice play on the forced fumble, and Coty had a handful of plays where he looked passable, but otherwise they were a complete shitshow. What happened to the confident Burns that was challenging AB in training camp? Burns has the talent, but no brains or instincts and the coaches aren't doing anything to make him better. Maybe Sutton gets a look outside this week?

3. TJ Watt: You know it's a bad night when Anthony Chickillo is making more plays than you. Like many guys he was struggling with his footing last night but everyone is playing on the same field. Not really anything he did positive last night. Been a really up and down year for him so far, which isn't too surprising for a second year player.

4. Chris Boswell: Get it together, Boz. I'm not ready to cut bait like some fans after three games. He's earned a lot of leeway after all the games he's won for us the past couple of years, but he's obviously struggling mentally. I will say that his misses last night were inches away from being good, it's not like he's out there shanking it. He's got to turn it around because he could be the difference between 10 wins or 7 given how we're consistently in tight games.

5. Terrell Edmunds and Sean Davis: Davis had a couple of nice plays and Edmunds had a nice return on the absolute gift of an interception, but overall these guys look lost, out of position, and always a step or three behind. It goes without saying, but the secondary is an absolute mess right now. Hopefully they get Burnett back and get Edmunds back to the bench as his head is swimming right now.

[Orangesteel]

Good stuff. 10/10

[fractalsteel]

You might add Tom Bradley to the list of losers.
It has only been three games but there was hope he could come in and get this group in order. Instead, it seems the group has regressed, especially when #23 isn't in there.

[Legacy User]

Nice write-up.

Dupree is maddening because he has talent and he's oh so close but it's constantly whiff after whiff after whiff. I'm wondering if he's just refusing to take a step inside too soon so he doesn't get burned outside his contain responsibility (like the tyrod Taylor TD). I didn't notice any plays where he didn't give effort, so that's a positive.

No love for Bostic? Admittedly his 2nd half wasn't nearly what his first half was....but the guy balled his ass off and seemed to set an emotional tone for the D in first half.

Watt: teams are getting him isolated in coverage and he's struggling. Al that running around on routes can't be helping his stamina on pass rush either.

[AirRescueFF]

Switzer is a nice addition. Boost to ST and a wrinkle in the offense.

Good job securing that TD catch. Might be mistaken, but seemed to me that Ben put a bit of mustard on it, over his shoulder.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Switzer is a nice addition. Boost to ST and a wrinkle in the offense.

Good job securing that TD catch. Might be mistaken, but seemed to me that Ben put a bit of mustard on it, over his shoulder.

And the punt catch was worth a 40 yard swing at the end of the game. It was a baller move!

I couldn’t for the life of me follow Watt. Was he that bad? I was hoping he was in coverage most of the night and that that was keeping him from sacks.

[steelmann58]

I thought Big dan should get some love causing that Bud Int return.

[tbsteel]

I thought Big dan should get some love causing that Bud Int return.

That was huge. Walked his man right back into Fitzpatrick's face forcing the high, errant throw.

[Lynch]

I'm diggin the Switzer trade. This dude is gonna help the offense in a major way with clutch plays at critical times.

[Scunge]

I have a couple losers to add.

Darius Hayward-Bey. I know that Tomlin and Danny Smith love him, that he is universally acknowledged as our best special teams player. But that penalty he had late in the game and then arguing with the ref about it and getting a personal foul penalty, man that is just typical with him anymore.

It is funny, I watch the game and have a pen and paper close at hand and often jot down notes during the game.

Too often I have notes where these precious vets kept for their special teams prowess, are getting penalties on special teams. Be it Bey, or Dangerfield or Matakevich, why are they not accountable? Why were they kept over younger players if they themselves are playing undisciplined?

I will give 3 examples from just the last two games. Against Tampa Bay, Berry punted and the ball was downed at the 1 yard line, but no, Bey was penalized for an illegal shift and then argued with the ref drawing a personal foul penalty. This backed up Berry 20 yards and he punted again and it was a touchback. So the defense was going to start out defending TB with them backed up on the 1 yard line but now TB has it at their 20 yard line. This is with the game still very much in doubt, TB down only by 3 points with over 3 minutes left on the clock.

At the start of the game, TB kicks off and Switzer has a nice 31 yard return, uhh, scratch that, Jordan Dangerfield gets flagged for holding, we are backed up at the 10 yard line.

The previous week, that supposed other Special Teams god of ours, Tyler Matakevich did this according to my notes:

In the 2nd quarter against KC, Switz has a 6 yard punt return but Matakevich is called for an Illegal Blindside block and we are backed up to the 10 yard line. At the end of the game Dirty Red also gets a roughing the kicker penalty.

Another vet, Stevan Ridley gets flagged on the return we had right after we got that safety. Brown had returned that 20 yards, we were at the 47 yard line I believe, but now with them punting again we return it with Switz and we end up at the 30 yard line.

Time and time and time again, these precious vets that Tomlin and Danny Smith love, these are the jokers that are committing the most egregious penalties that are backing up our offense and causing us to lose the field position battle.

Bey has one job to do special teams. Dirty Red hasn't seen a single snap on defense, his bread and butter is special teams, ditto for Dangerfield. And yet they are making these mistakes each and every game.

I so hate Danny Smith. Just a really over rated special teams coach. It was only a matter of time before he ruined Boz, and now that we have a very good return man in Switz, just wait he will find a way to neutralize him too.

[Legacy User]

My best Danny Smith moment was how he managed Berry in the AFC champ game. Berry was hurt and cost them huge amounts of field position up in Denver.

[Steelafan77]

LOSERS...

@Alex_Kozora
Combined, Artie Burns and Coty Sensabaugh when targeted last night:

10/13 194 yards 2 TDs. QB rating of 157.9. https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora/status/ ... 9523300352

So fans eyes weren't seeing things. A Steelers first round pick corner and a garbage heap veteran corner both sucked so bad that they made even a struggling turnover machine, career journeyman, backup QB like Fitzpatrick look like an All Pro/Pro Bowler.

WINNER....

@RyanScarpino
Since JuJu's bike was stolen on 10/24/17, he has played in 10 regular-season games: 68 receptions for 1,042 yards with 5 TDs. Also had a return TD on special teams. Talk about kicking it into high gear https://twitter.com/RyanScarpino/status ... 1863952384

This guy is only gonna get much better. Still very young and still a lot of untapped potential. Once AB hangs 'em up It'll be the Juju and JW show....

[Ice]

I'll totally agree with Ben, Juju, and a pretty shaken up O-line due to the injuries being big winners. Since Bud gets a bucket of moose shit dumped after him after almost every game, I'll give him his due and proper, as well.

That Kozora stat with the 157 point rating for Fitzmagic when targeting Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum speaks for itself. If dude had gotten 5 more minutes against that pair, we likely don't hold on for the win. Shitty safety play continues to make it difficult to totally blame any one part of the unit, though. Keystone cops back there, and no visible improvement from Lake to Bradley. Maybe even regression. I expected a LOT better from this bunch.

ST's vets. Spot on, Scunge. You keep hungry young players looking to play their way into the regular lineup as your special teams players, not useless old vets who are just hanging on for a league minimum paycheck. That's how smart teams build and keep depth. It's how the Steelers do their part for charity.

Not only the 13 penalties, but much more the yardage got me. 150 yards of hidden yardage is tough to overcome. I will say that, past a point in the game, it looked like the defenders for both teams collectively said "fuck that QB rule," and just started playing regular ball. I could obviously be wrong.

[Legacy User]

Loser - Tomlin

Because Tomlin

Think it’s a safe bet he can win this award every week

[Obviously]

Loser - Tomlin

Because Tomlin

Think it’s a safe bet he can win this award every week

I like the way you think.

Unfortunately, there are Tomlin defenders left.

[Stosh-67]

LOSERS...

@Alex_Kozora
Combined, Artie Burns and Coty Sensabaugh when targeted last night:

10/13 194 yards 2 TDs. QB rating of 157.9. https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora/status/ ... 9523300352

So fans eyes weren't seeing things. A Steelers first round pick corner and a garbage heap veteran corner both sucked so bad that they made even a struggling turnover machine, career journeyman, backup QB like Fitzpatrick look like an All Pro/Pro Bowler.

WINNER....

@RyanScarpino
Since JuJu's bike was stolen on 10/24/17, he has played in 10 regular-season games: 68 receptions for 1,042 yards with 5 TDs. Also had a return TD on special teams. Talk about kicking it into high gear https://twitter.com/RyanScarpino/status ... 1863952384

This guy is only gonna get much better. Still very young and still a lot of untapped potential. Once AB hangs 'em up It'll be the Juju and JW show....

At this point,
Give me the length and physical tools of Brian Allen and give him a shot.

Let Burns and Sensabaugh run around on ST's............at least that is only 8-12 snaps a game as opposed to a whole game of defensive snaps.

[Legacy User]

Let Burns and Sensabaugh run around on ST's............at least that is only 8-12 snaps a game as opposed to a whole game of defensive snaps.

I can see it now. Two free runners at our returner with both Artie and Coty in tow.

[franco32]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

[Ice]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

I noticed the Watt in coverage, too (disclaimer: was deathly afraid OJ Howard was going to be the doom of my fantasy team this week). Watt to ILB (Scunge and B2B, memorably, probably others) has been discussed, either temporarily or permanently multiple times on this board, and depending on FA/draft this season, maybe permanently isn't a bad idea.

[LakecrestSteeler]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

Agree, just watched the condensed game and focused on him too. He had some good rushes, and went out in coverage a ton. He also was getting manhandled by the tackle early on too.

I actually think he was used as bait on a few of the rushes that got to Fitz as well.

His game wasn't that bad, but nothing to write home to Mom about either.

[Legacy User]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

Agree, just watched the condensed game and focused on him too. He had some good rushes, and went out in coverage a ton. He also was getting manhandled by the tackle early on too.

I actually think he was used as bait on a few of the rushes that got to Fitz as well.

His game wasn't that bad, but nothing to write home to Mom about either.

You have the all -22 Lake? Was AB bracketed? Was he getting separation? I think he is still injured

[Legacy User]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

Agree, just watched the condensed game and focused on him too. He had some good rushes, and went out in coverage a ton. He also was getting manhandled by the tackle early on too.

I actually think he was used as bait on a few of the rushes that got to Fitz as well.

His game wasn't that bad, but nothing to write home to Mom about either.

You have the all -22 Lake? Was AB bracketed? Was he getting separation? I think he is still injured

He might be, but he certainly didn't look hindered at all on that hitch that went for the td.

[stillthere]

He might be, but he certainly didn't look hindered at all on that hitch that went for the td.

I have had lingering questions about AB maybe being still dinged up but this popped into my head on that play as well. Maybe he is just a week away. Being as it was the 2nd quarter he may have actually been at the perfect level of limbered up at that time.

[Legacy User]

He might be, but he certainly didn't look hindered at all on that hitch that went for the td.

I have had lingering questions about AB maybe being still dinged up but this popped into my head on that play as well. Maybe he is just a week away. Being as it was the 2nd quarter he may have actually been at the perfect level of limbered up at that time.

I think he's just spending too much time in his tree house. The treehouse masters guy said he's a Seattle fan, so there's no telling what that massage chair is really doing to AB.

[bradshaw2ben]

I watched TJ Watt closely on Monday night. First off, he kept losing his footing. Our equipment people might want to rethink the cleat size at some point...just a suggestion.

Secondly, he was coverage A TON. I wish I had the snap count, but Butler effectively was using him as a MLB to cover Howard, the other TE, and even WRs. I get it that our MLBs suck in coverage. But, why pull your best pass rusher away from the line of scrimmage? Frankly, even when he did rush, he was often chipped or doubled (and probably running out of gas from chasing receivers all game).

I've come to grips now that Butler is a fckin moron (like running Sutton on the same corner blitz a million times in the second half). However, even Butler can't be dumb enough to expend our best resource on D by having them in coverage all the time....can he?

To say Watt was a loser without this context would be unfair IMO.

Agree, just watched the condensed game and focused on him too. He had some good rushes, and went out in coverage a ton. He also was getting manhandled by the tackle early on too.

I actually think he was used as bait on a few of the rushes that got to Fitz as well.

His game wasn't that bad, but nothing to write home to Mom about either.

Watt is their best LB in coverage, plain and simple. Steelers are getting pressure, coverage of the middle between LBs and safeties is the major problem.

[Legacy User]

You have the all -22 Lake? Was AB bracketed? Was he getting separation? I think he is still injured[/quote]
He might be, but he certainly didn't look hindered at all on that hitch that went for the td.[/quote]

Great point..so much for not making short breaks..he had a 2nd gear to the pile on.